Hello Oly
Didn,t want to get to involved in this discussion, as I know, what the guys are saying -- is the right way to do this -- BUT, I have been running my cabin (somewhat like you have described)
For nearly two years now, I have been charging the batts, in both my cabin, and a 24' trailer -- off the same solar panel, and controller !!
I just came off the controller, with two seperate sets of wires (12 Gage) and have a 10 amp fuse on each positive line !! That fuse, guards against shorts, but I put it in the line, actually, to protect the wire from burning up, if one bank of batteries "bleeds" back to the other, while in use !!
There are two batts, in the trailer (12 volt about 110 amps each) and about the same in the cabin -- both sets, are different types, and the one set is about a year older than the other!!
I only use 12 volt in the trailer, but have two inverters ( one on standby, in case the other dies !!) in the cabin, for lighting and light stuff -- TV, drills and small saw, Etc... The fridge, is propane, and only needs 12 volt, for the starting and temp control and a water pressure pump!!
BUT, I never run the microwave on the inverter -- for that, I start the generator -- but future plans are to improve the battery bank, with some "Trojan"
L-16,s 350 Amp -- then we might use that microwave !!
I also have a wind generator, but I have operated on only the solar panel for the past two years (65 watts)and have had no problems, as is !!
The only other thing I might add is -- obviously, I don,t use much power and shut off, everything I,m not useing -- AND, that cabin is in Northern california, top of a hill, with LOTs of sunlight !!
The trailer, will be taken away, when all work is done on the cabin, so I didn,t want to spend a lot of $$$ on the hook ups--- But, the "guys" are right about how to do this properly -- other than that, IT works for me and the one thing I have found out --- there is no substitute, for good batteries !! Bill H...